(WKYT) – The coach that led the University of Kentucky Wildcats to the 1998 NCAA National Championship is a hall of famer.
Orlando “Tubby” Smith was announced as a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2026 class on Monday.
Besides leading UK to the title in his debut season, Smith led UK to 22 or more victories from 1998 to 2007, 263 wins overall, winning five Southeastern Conference regular season championships and five SEC Tournament championships.
Smith also coached at Tulsa, Georgia, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Memphis and High Point. He ended his coaching career with 642 wins.
The 2026 class be enshired on October 22 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The class includes former Villanova head coach Jay Wright, former Kansas head coach Ted Owens, BYU’s Danny Ainge, Michigan’s Glen Rice and UCLA star Walt Hazzard.
